Am I being a jerk, or are they unreasonable?

[Anonymous]

We live in a townhouse style condo. We have two levels, but there is one unit that lives below our downstairs neighbors wrote a letter complaining about the level of noise. They say we are the loudest upstairs neighbors they have had. We have three kids, including one clumsy 6 year old boy - but we try to minimize the thumping and everyday kid noises. On top of walking noise complaints, they say the noise from flushing toilets (on either level), washing machine (that is on our top floor), and garbage disposal are bothering them, and they bang loudly on their ceiling if we use any of these after 11 pm. They also bang on the ceiling at night if our cat walks across the floor, or the roomba is running.

I can (and do) refrain from using the washer and garbage disposal in the evening if possible, but I think it's unreasonable to set limits on when we can flush our toilets. I have a newborn (so just out of the 'up ten times a night to pee' phase), but we have to be able to use our washer if we need to. Am I the one being unreasonable?

[Anonymous]

They lose all credibility complaining about you flushing a toilet at night. If they focused on reasonable things (the roomba at night isn't fair if you have downstairs neighbors, etc) they'd have a case but the complaining about the toilets just makes it seem like they're jerkoffs that don't deserve the time of day.

[Anonymous]

They need to move.

[Anonymous]

They are unreasonable. Make sure you have carpets main areas and do your best not to stomp around in the evenings. As far as flushing and washing machine, do what you need to do. That's the breaks when you live in a condo. And I have lived in condos for a long time before buying a house.

[Anonymous]

Your kids are way louder than you realize and the walls and floors have very little insulation. In your home, if you are living there long term, with 3 kids, you need to invest in very good padding and wall to wall carpet. There is nothing you can really do about the plumbing noises unless you are willing to do some more insulation. It's likely the neighbor is pissed at themselves for not thinking about how much noise there is in shared wall living

[Anonymous]

Move to a single family house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Move to a single family house.

The downstairs neighbors are the ones that need to move to a single family home. You want single family home noise levels, you need to pay single family home prices. You can't buy a downstairs/basement condo then complain when you hear noise from those above you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Move to a single family house.

The downstairs neighbors are the ones that need to move to a single family home. You want single family home noise levels, you need to pay single family home prices. You can't buy a downstairs/basement condo then complain when you hear noise from those above you.

+1. Other than carpeting, you have to live your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Move to a single family house.

We are looking - not because of this, but because we want more space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kids are way louder than you realize and the walls and floors have very little insulation. In your home, if you are living there long term, with 3 kids, you need to invest in very good padding and wall to wall carpet. There is nothing you can really do about the plumbing noises unless you are willing to do some more insulation. It's likely the neighbor is pissed at themselves for not thinking about how much noise there is in shared wall living

It's not our house, it's a rental. Landlord loves the hard wood floors. We have rugs down, but carpet is not an option.

[Anonymous]

I'd take quick weekend trip after putting a small pinhole in the freshwater line of the washing machine.

[Anonymous]

Doing anything after 11pm at night is obnoxious as hell. No, you don't need to run a roomba or do your laundry that late. Plan better. Toilet flushing is the exception.

[Anonymous]

I think NOT using the washer and the garbage disposal after 11 pm is reasonable.

Most condo docs define quiet hours. Ours are 10 pm to 9 am. I think 9 am is a long stretch for morning quiet, but I suppose that would give a neighbor the right to ask for no washer until 9 am. Vacuum cleaners are specifically listed -- no vacuuming during quiet hours.

What do the docs say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doing anything after 11pm at night is obnoxious as hell. No, you don't need to run a roomba or do your laundry that late. Plan better. Toilet flushing is the exception.

I'll be sure to plan the next stomach bug for daytime hours...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doing anything after 11pm at night is obnoxious as hell. No, you don't need to run a roomba or do your laundry that late. Plan better. Toilet flushing is the exception.

You must be fun at parties.